Cozy

January 18, 2011 - the day before our fire

I watch giant snowflakes fall outside my window and it makes me think of two things:  being warm and cozy in my house and wondering how those survive who are homeless and hungry and never have that feeling of cozy security.   And the second thing - I can understand their uncertainty on such a small level.   This past Saturday was two years since our house fire.  On that night, "snow globe" flakes fell - so peaceful.  So much snow on the ground that school for the next day had already been cancelled.  I tucked in my children, William already sleeping, and made sure their blankets were pulled up tight.  They were sweet and innocent with their stuffy fluffy friends, so excited to stay home from school the next day.  I went downstairs feeling so fortunate to have this warm space, only worried that Bart's flight home the next evening would be canceled.   And then 15 minutes later, our warm space became the enemy and as the fire raged inside, I did not hesitate to take my children out in the snow, in their pajamas and with no coats or shoes.   But here is the big difference - I had a car I could put them in, and friends who would take them in and shield them from the many fire trucks and billowing flames, and neighbors who would pack their own coats and clothes for us to wear, and the Red Cross who gave us soap and blankets and toothbrushes, and in-laws who drove in a snowstorm to take us to their house and more neighbors who stayed through the night long after we were gone to supervise our house being boarded up.    And it makes me think - who do the homeless have? Who do the poor have?   And then I remember what I have heard a thousand times at church - they have us.  My church delivers food to the homeless two days a week and provides containers for parishioners to make and freeze food.   Today, I filled a few containers and will continue to do so.  It truly felt like the most productive way to spend my day.  How can you help the homeless and poor?    Let me know what ideas you have!